Improvement in obstetrical supporters



UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICEo WILLIAM W. FINCH, JACOB BLAISDELL, AND LEANDER-BABBIT, OF ESSEX COUNTY, NENV YORK.

wlPaovEMENT IN OBSTETRICAL suPPo'RTERs.

' Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 7,019, dated January 15, 18550.

T0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, WILLIAM W. FINoH, JACOB BLAISDELL, and LEANDER BABBIT, all of the county of Essex and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Obstetrical Supporters, which we denominate the spine abdominal obstetrical supporter, for assisting in the de-y livery of parturient fem ales in al1 natural and difficult-labors, which is described as follows, reference being had to the annexed drawings of the sam e, making part of this specification. Figure 1 represents a figure of a'female and *the applicationthereto of the abo\f*enamed instrument. Fig. 2 represents a perspective view .of the instrument, the relative parts be-4 ing shown in proper connection with each other. Fig. 3 is an elevation of the spinal or back pad, connecting-straps, &c. Fig. 4 is an elevation of the abdominal or front pad.'

Similar letters in the several figures refer to correpondingparts.

The nature of our invention and improve.

bor and rendering the process of deliverymuch more safe and easy than by any other means or instruments heretofore used.

To enable others skilled in the art of making surgical instruments and'others to make and use our invention, we will'proceed to describe its construction and operation.

First. It consists of a spinal supporter A, composed of two steel or elastic plates joined together at their upper ends and accurately fitted to the spinal column, to the lower ends of which is secured a concave oval spinal pad B, also composed of a metallic plate, the whole being covered with leather and cushioned, designed to support the spine and press on the loins, so as to relieve parturient pains.

To the upper portion of the back-supporter A, and on either side thereof, are attached by lacing-strings two straps C C, provided with, elastic sections C C', &c., and made to fit over the shoulders and buckle around the arms, by

which the'spinal padB is fixed in whatever t position it is placed, and steadiness and force given to muscular eifort made during parturition. The object oflacing `these shoulderstraps to the body of the supporter is to render them capable of adaptation to different-sized females. To the outside and across the concave spinal pad is secured abroad strapD, which exy tends beyond either end thereof a suitable distance and connects with broad stirrup-straps E E by narrow straps e eand buckles, said broad stirrup-straps E extending down lto each i foot and returned upward, as` seen at E E', and secured to the said straps E iu such manner as to form restingloops,'in whichthe feet rest and are secured, To the looped extremities of these stirrup-straps are'attached narrow straps F F, which pass over the 'insteps and buckle, and thus confine the feet securely in theloops.` The upper ends of the stirrup-straps E E are made to underlap and extend above the endsof the broad straps D and connect therewith by sliding loops G G, which, by means ofthe short straps c e, allow the said stirrup-straps E'E to be Tengthened or shortened to suit the necessary flexion and extension of the legs. v

Secondly. In connection with the spinal pad B there is a concave oval pad H, covered and cushioned in the mannerof the pad B, or

otherwise, if preferred. 'This concave pad H is placed upon the abdomen and held in the proper position by twoV connecting drawingstraps I I, and is provided withthree bucklesv a b c at each end, through two of which are buckled the extremities 4of the straps .I J,

which are alike provided with bucklesl d d, ,y

through which buckles the upper ends of the connecting dra\.v ing-straps I I pass. Said concave pad, in connection with its straps, &c., is'designed to support the abdominal muscles and Acorrect irregular positions of the uterus. These connecting and drawing straps I I are of su'liicient length to allowthem to extend from the buckles d d through rings -K K, at-

y tached to the strap I) near the hips, and then down through buckles Il L, fastened to the broad strapsEE near the knees. By increasing or decreasing the length of these straps I I between the rings K K and buckles L, the yforce applied to the abdominal pad will be consequentlyincreased or decreased, as may be required, or the connecting and drawing straps I I may be returned from the rings K y K and passed through the central buckles b b, attached to the abdominal .pad H, when the accoucheur prefers that method ef applying it. Theaforesaid rings K K, through which the drawing-straps. I I pass, are lsecured to the straps M M, one of whose ends are attached by buckles f f to that portion of the broad strap D secured over the spinal 'pad near its center, andthe other extremities attached by buckles g g to the same beyond either end of the spinal pad, the whole being so arranged and joined together that the position of the rings K K canl be varied to suit the circumstances of each particular case'. To each of the broad strapsE there issecured by buckles 'h h two loops N N, in a proper' and convenient position to be grasped by the hands of the' female duringy a paroxysm of pain.

Manner of applying the instrument-The se'v'er'al parts of the instrument being'properly connected,- the back-supporter'A is buckled around the arms by the sta-ap OO, and the spinal pad is then adjusted over the loins or. small of theback. The concave pad H is then placed over and'against the abdomen in 'such manner and position. as the circumstances may require and adjusted to produce the necessary pressure by means of the straps J M,

which connect the spinal with the abdominal pad. lThe feet are then inserted and con fined in the looped'ends of the broad stirrup-straps E, and, the connecting-straps I Asecured to the buckles L L, the-instrument is then ready for use. This combination tand arrangement of pads, straps, &c., by applying 4the power at the sole of the foot and from the shoulders. and arms, allows all themuscles of the upper and lower extremities toact freely, enables the aocoucheur to place and retain the limbs of the female in a proper position, when by simply extending her legs and pressing on the loops in which the feet .rest she can make all the pressure on her back through the pad B that is desirable, to alleviate the excruciating pains of labor. She can also in the most natural and easy manner possible, sustain herself i-n a proper position so as togive force and energy to all the muscles in their parturient efforts, and thus hasten delivery. The front pad H should be s o applied-that by firm and gentlepressure the weakened and relaxed abdominal muscles may be supported andl aided in their efforts to assist'the uterus in expelling the fetus, which is toooften disproportioned to the pelvic strait through which it .mustpass In rectifying malpositons of the uterus, if

itis inclined to either side the pad should be placed o n the corresponding side vand gentle pressure made till the right position is obtained. It the head of the child rests .on the Sacrum or pubis, it is easily rectified by mak- B, by which the female is enabled to apply the necessary pressure to the back by the simultaneous or alternate action of the shoulders and feet on the Astraps connected with the back-pad for relieving the labors and irritation of parturition without the assistance of any 'otherpersom as herein fully set forth.

In testimony whereof wel have .hereunto signed our namesbefore two subscribing witnesses; this 4th day of October, A. D. 1849.

' WM. W. FINCH.

JACOB BLAISDELL.

LEANDER BABBIT. Witnesses:

T. C. FELT, HARVEY CARTER. 

